All Saints, Jesus Lane
Encyclopedia
All Saints is a church on Jesus Lane
in central Cambridge
, England
, which was built by the architect G F Bodley
. The church was constructed between 1863 and 1870 and, as a notable example of the Gothic Revival
style and the Arts and Crafts Movement
, is a Grade II* listed building. It is no longer a parish church, but has been under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
since 1981.
. Its history dates back to the 11th century and by the 13th century was in the patronage of St Radegunde's Nunnery, later re-established as Jesus College
. The church was rebuilt several times but by the nineteenth century was deemed too small for the growing congregation. It was finally demolished in 1865 to be replaced by a new building in Jesus Lane
. The churchyard of the original church is now an open space and contains a memorial cross designed by Basil Champneys
in 1882.
Although it was initially hoped that Gilbert Scott
would design the new church, Bodley, Scott's talented pupil, was chosen. The foundation stone was laid on May 27, 1863 and was consecrated on November 30, 1864. Between 1869 and 1871 the present tower and spire were added, with the church of Ashbourne
, Derbyshire
used as the model.
The church fell out of use as a place of worship in 1973 and lay redundant
for several years. A plan to demolish part of the building was abandoned in 1981. Today the church is used by the neighbouring theological college, Westcott House
for worship and for secular events, such as art exhibitions. It is open to the public daily. It is used for Sunday morning worship by Cambridge Presbyterian Church.
and Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church
.
The church is noted for its striking decorated interior, much of it designed by Bodley. Fittings designed by Bodley include the alabaster font
, the pulpit
, and the oak aisle screen.
The painted wall and ceiling decorations, by the Leach Studio, Morris & Co.
and others, are covered in stencilled patterns and repeated use of religious symbolism such as the Sacred Monogram
and the Fleur-de-lis
. Around the upper walls are texts from the Book of Revelation
and from the Beatitudes
. Part of the Beatitudes have been lost due to water damage to the plaster.
The stained-glass east window was designed by Edward Burne-Jones
and executed by Morris & Co.
The twenty figures were individually designed Burne-Jones, Ford Madox Brown
and William Morris
. In the north aisle are three windows by C E Kempe
and Douglas Strachan
.
Jesus Lane
Jesus Lane is a historical street in central Cambridge, England. The street links with the junction of Bridge Street and Sidney Street to the west. To the east is a roundabout. To the south is King Street, running parallel with Jesus Lane and linking at the roundabout. The road continues east as...
in central Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which was built by the architect G F Bodley
George Frederick Bodley
George Frederick Bodley was an English architect working in the Gothic revival style.-Personal life:Bodley was the youngest son of William Hulme Bodley, M.D. of Edinburgh, physician at Hull Royal Infirmary, Kingston upon Hull, who in 1838 retired to his wife's home town, Brighton, Sussex, England....
. The church was constructed between 1863 and 1870 and, as a notable example of the Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style and the Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
, is a Grade II* listed building. It is no longer a parish church, but has been under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
since 1981.
History
A mediæval church, All Saints Jewry, stood in St John's Street, CambridgeSt John's Street, Cambridge
St John's Street is a historical street in central Cambridge, England. The street links with Bridge Street, Round Church Street, and Sidney Street to the north. It continues to the south as Trinity Street, then King's Parade and Trumpington Street...
. Its history dates back to the 11th century and by the 13th century was in the patronage of St Radegunde's Nunnery, later re-established as Jesus College
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. The church was rebuilt several times but by the nineteenth century was deemed too small for the growing congregation. It was finally demolished in 1865 to be replaced by a new building in Jesus Lane
Jesus Lane
Jesus Lane is a historical street in central Cambridge, England. The street links with the junction of Bridge Street and Sidney Street to the west. To the east is a roundabout. To the south is King Street, running parallel with Jesus Lane and linking at the roundabout. The road continues east as...
. The churchyard of the original church is now an open space and contains a memorial cross designed by Basil Champneys
Basil Champneys
Basil Champneys was an architect and author whose more notable buildings include Newnham College, Cambridge, Manchester's John Rylands Library, Mansfield College, Oxford and Oriel College, Oxford's Rhodes Building.- Life :...
in 1882.
Although it was initially hoped that Gilbert Scott
Gilbert Scott
Gilbert Scott may refer to several of a family of British architects:* Sir George Gilbert Scott , who was principally known for his architectural designs for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and St Pancras Station...
would design the new church, Bodley, Scott's talented pupil, was chosen. The foundation stone was laid on May 27, 1863 and was consecrated on November 30, 1864. Between 1869 and 1871 the present tower and spire were added, with the church of Ashbourne
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Ashbourne is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales, England. It has a population of 10,302.The town advertises itself as 'The Gateway to Dovedale'.- Local customs :...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
used as the model.
The church fell out of use as a place of worship in 1973 and lay redundant
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
for several years. A plan to demolish part of the building was abandoned in 1981. Today the church is used by the neighbouring theological college, Westcott House
Westcott House, Cambridge
Westcott House is a Church of England theological college based in Jesus Lane located in the centre of the university city of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.Its main activity is training people for ordained ministry in Anglican churches...
for worship and for secular events, such as art exhibitions. It is open to the public daily. It is used for Sunday morning worship by Cambridge Presbyterian Church.
Architecture
The church's spire is a prominent Cambridge landmark. At around 175 feet in height it was at its construction the tallest building in Cambridge; it remains the city's third tallest building, after the chimney of Addenbrooke's HospitalAddenbrooke's Hospital
Addenbrooke's Hospital is an internationally renowned teaching hospital in Cambridge, England, with strong links to the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1766 on Trumpington Street with £4,500 from the will of Dr John Addenbrooke, a fellow of St Catharine's College...
and Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church
Our Lady and the English Martyrs Church
Our Lady and the English Martyrs is a Catholic parish church located at the junction of Hills Road and Lensfield Road in south east Cambridge, England...
.
The church is noted for its striking decorated interior, much of it designed by Bodley. Fittings designed by Bodley include the alabaster font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
, the pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
, and the oak aisle screen.
The painted wall and ceiling decorations, by the Leach Studio, Morris & Co.
Morris & Co.
Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. and its successor Morris & Co. were furnishings and decorative arts manufacturers and retailers founded by the Pre-Raphaelite artist and designer William Morris...
and others, are covered in stencilled patterns and repeated use of religious symbolism such as the Sacred Monogram
Christogram
A Christogram is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbol. Different types of Christograms are associated with the various traditions of Christianity, e.g...
and the Fleur-de-lis
Fleur-de-lis
The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
. Around the upper walls are texts from the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
and from the Beatitudes
Beatitudes
In Christianity, the Beatitudes are a set of teachings by Jesus that appear in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The term Beatitude comes from the Latin adjective beatus which means happy, fortunate, or blissful....
. Part of the Beatitudes have been lost due to water damage to the plaster.
The stained-glass east window was designed by Edward Burne-Jones
Edward Burne-Jones
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet was a British artist and designer closely associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, who worked closely with William Morris on a wide range of decorative arts as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company...
and executed by Morris & Co.
Morris & Co.
Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. and its successor Morris & Co. were furnishings and decorative arts manufacturers and retailers founded by the Pre-Raphaelite artist and designer William Morris...
The twenty figures were individually designed Burne-Jones, Ford Madox Brown
Ford Madox Brown
Ford Madox Brown was an English painter of moral and historical subjects, notable for his distinctively graphic and often Hogarthian version of the Pre-Raphaelite style. Arguably, his most notable painting was Work...
and William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
. In the north aisle are three windows by C E Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe was a well-known Victorian stained glass designer. After attending Twyford School, he studied for the priesthood at Pembroke College, Oxford, but it became clear that his severe stammer would be an impediment to preaching...
and Douglas Strachan
Douglas Strachan
Dr. Douglas Strachan was considered the most significant Scottish designer of stained glass windows in the 20th Century. Schooled at Robert Gordon's, he studied art at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen, at the Life School of the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, and the Royal Academy in London...
.
See also
- Gothic Revival architectureGothic Revival architectureThe Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
- British stained glass (1811-1918)British stained glass (1811-1918)A revival of the art and craft of stained glass window manufacture took place in early 19th century Britain, beginning with an armorial window created by Thomas Willement in 1811-12...
- Arts and Crafts MovementArts and Crafts movementArts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
- Anglo-CatholicismAnglo-CatholicismThe terms Anglo-Catholic and Anglo-Catholicism describe people, beliefs and practices within Anglicanism that affirm the Catholic, rather than Protestant, heritage and identity of the Anglican churches....
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in the East of England
External links
- All Saints - Churches Conservation Trust website
- All Saints - Westcott House website